Obituary of John Anderson

Kernersville-Dr. John H. Anderson, 90, went home to be with the Lord November 21, 2013. Graveside Military Funeral Honors will be held 1:00PM Tuesday November 26, 2013 at the National Veterans Cemetery in Salisbury, NC. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Anderson was the son of the late Ethel Marshall and John Henry Anderson. John received his B.A. at Kansas City Conservatory of Music. During his last term as a student, he was drafted into military service. He served his country during WWII as a radio operator on a B-17 with the US Army Air Corps. He flew 24 missions with the 388th Bomber Squadron before being shot down over Germany. For the last eight months of the war, John was a Prisoner of War. It is possible to read about John's military experience in The Last Escape by John Nichols and at the University of Georgia's Alumni Website: http://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/index.php/site/heritage/c/104/1788. After the war, John took an assistant band director position at the University of Georgia where he met his wife, Hazel and together they had six children. John continued his education obtaining his Masters Degree at the University of Michigan and later his PH.D. in Music Theory at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. John went on to be the Head of the Fine Arts Department at Bethel College (later Bethel University) in McKenzie, TN. He then became the Chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Columbus College (later Columbus State University) in Columbus, Georgia. Upon retirement in 1982 he and his wife Hazel, moved to Mexico Beach, Florida where they lived for twenty-seven years enjoying the sun and the beach. While in Florida, John became involved in the Florida Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization rising to the rank of Commander. Recently he and his wife moved to Kernersville, NC in order to be closer to their daughter. John continued to be active in the Central Region of North Carolina's Ex-POW chapter. In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by his son Jack M. Anderson, and his sister Vivian Putnam. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Hazel Marie McDonald Anderson of Kernersville; daughter Lezah Arney and Ken of Kernersville; sons John Hugh Anderson and Arlene of Palm Bay, FL, Rev. Peter M. Anderson and Barbara of Ocala, FL, Phillip M. Anderson and Ellen of Snellville, GA, and Paul B. Anderson and Jackie of Savannah, GA; 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and numerous extended family and friends. A Celebration of his life will be held 2:00PM Saturday December 28, 2013 at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home Chapel. The family will visit with friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are asked to be made, to honor Dr. Anderson's life, to the charity of one's choice, The American Red Cross, or Hospice of Forsyth, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103. Friends and family may sign, and view the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com Service Information